# 4 takeaways as Celtics newcomer shines in win over Cavs in preseason opener

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-10-09 08:00 UTC · Category: Sports

## Executive Summary
Luka Garza shines as the Celtics defeat the Cavaliers 124-113 in their preseason opener.

## Intelligence Brief
Current reporting outlines the initial matchup of the preseason schedule between the Celtics and the Cavaliers. According to coverage from Fear The Sword, the final score of the game concluded with the Cavs losing to the Celtics with a tally of 124 to 113. Additional reporting from NBC Sports Boston and CelticsBlog details that newcomer Luka Garza led the team to this victory, headlining the performance and shining during the contest. MassLive.com structured its analysis around four primary takeaways stemming from the opening game action, while The Boston Globe focused its observations on personnel decisions made during the match. Specific media outlets have dedicated significant attention to the roster management and player performances observed during this fixture.


Outlets such as NBC Sports Boston, CelticsBlog, and MassLive.com emphasize the immediate impact of new additions to the team, specifically pointing to Luka Garza as the focal point of the win. Meanwhile, reporting from The Boston Globe highlights that head coach Joe Mazzulla, alongside the top eight rotation players, watched the game from the sidelines rather than participating on the court. This particular detail regarding the absence of key rotation players provides crucial context regarding how the coaching staff chose to approach the opening preseason fixture. Contextual analysis from the available sources indicates that this contest marks the official start of the preseason calendar for both franchises. The Cavaliers enter this period following the conclusion of their prior campaign, now facing a defeat in their first exhibition test against Boston.


The Celtics, conversely, open their exhibition slate with a positive result despite resting a significant portion of their established rotation. Coverage does not yet specify the long-term roster implications of these early performances, but the reports establish that exhibition games serve as an initial platform for newcomers and bench players to demonstrate their capabilities under game conditions. Looking ahead, observers and analysts will monitor how subsequent preseason fixtures unfold for both organizations as the regular season approaches. Coverage does not yet specify the dates or opponents for the next games on the schedule, nor does it indicate when Joe Mazzulla and the top eight rotation players plan to make their on-court preseason debuts. Future reporting will likely track whether Luka Garza maintains this level of production in upcoming matchups and how the coaching staff adjusts player minutes as the exhibition calendar progresses toward meaningful competition.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Fear The Sword | 8 Takeaways from Cavs loss to Celtics: Defense leaves much to be desired in preseason opener | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMioAJBVV95cUxPUWUtRlVieE9vaWtIOFJYdGY4Smg4cmlESjhCQW4weVFjdFUzcEdsRjl1cFB0bFFzWTJxNGFKTFR3a2g3eFVGUnRMYnB5c3JSUmxMS2VkSjZqTmVpaFVCclFOVlYzRzlLMFVQV0M0TEw3OUIyT2VGRWZIRlZhbGtMWnhCbWFCdEZPbHJYczBZYThidVJPOEhGdGJWeTNMbnp3alF3S1IybDIwZ2dYMDlOcXJZX3lSUGFmdkhmTDN2X2JxdG9BbEFka3lKUDBuQVFQR0p4di1PcDlaSl80WV9vazZkdDRRWGZEYzN5SGZuRm1IeWNJTU43NkFZQ3dKLUtVbWs3aWVoYzJsamRSdzJmM1FtcXBodFBlbkNHbktqdlE?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Celtics Reveal Intriguing Weapon In Preseason Win Over Cavaliers | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilgFBVV95cUxOanBmNm9ZZnJ2RTNUM3RIbGlnZFp4dksyejByRjY5YW4yQ3U3WU9RbGx4c3BCMXYzRXJBdGZNMEJEanJJVDc4aXN3RWt4M2ZzREFLcWthV2VXSzNMNy1HckNkd0JmYkdPblBabVFmaHdtS3hvQU85SDM2LU4zWXQxeVFmQ01NUUpXV25mQjJwSTdXUHBSREE?oc=5) |
| CelticsBlog | Celtics will be without 8 players in preseason opener | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirAFBVV95cUxPRGVOZWtYRjNiNEtHQXp4NC1ldk9JNGoyX2tPTEZnY0U0RUk3RHpuUnZ6NWFndzMzTXhfa0dOaThrendOakhZa3BFWGhDZlBUaEhvZFFnSWMzTHBmYmx5ZktuNFBtdVpJVGhENGVGWnhUS0RON1kzeFVQWW05bWhFX3pUR2V1NkVoa3pkQUJyNjVvcmVvdEpJa3NNR1hTV19WZmUyOWNPLU40TDN1?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Celtics reserve makes case for minutes in preseason win over Cavaliers | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijgFBVV95cUxNbWhOSHZlMEVUaVpkRHRVaTBRcERQVDhzRkNaeWk0eDh0R2p4aXFFOERacUxyOXN1cE1sOGxyWllYN2lsS3VjTE5ILXQ3SzU2djh1Q3JtYXBUQkFpT1Q0elpfSklyQ094MDhGd3N6R3hlc1ZJLW5YRklpMFVrcjZIZFlqMWg1RjVhMjVTWFJ3?oc=5) |
| NBC Sports Boston | Celtics-Cavs recap: Luka Garza leads C's to preseason-opening win | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqwFBVV95cUxPcjN2cXVUbDdDbVJDY0txdW5wRnBucHA0Y2lscWd0bmhHdHdJT0ZwN0hoeDZXSHVVNFZ4eGRMRmtIWGNWRFo2dVpOQUhKUGdwUzFCVnlzTzEyZFY2TENPMjNNZ3hOYXhGTE5qbzNLWnY0TEdaZTBiYVVxVFlzRk1xMlkxMy0tZmxTUjZTMUk4TVRzeHQyY1JIZklPVzhPT2VwUVA3bjhMRjJBM03SAbMBQVVfeXFMUGw0VXdwdlVhUVB5QjlnMWtmMkRpY0hpWmRRZHk1TnplMjJXRmE1U3RfaWFSd2prUC05clBhZ0EyV3pjRXFrMGIwaEUtb1FqMDladjRrSXhlai1ST2ozRTEtOVRDV2U3MFYyNFJYTmtDUmFqd0w2QmZTcklQc1BiTFFYQnU5ZFA5dEVydWtLcTd4b2JRT2x0UzZxTGlvS2hLM21ocDlJNXM) |
| Fear The Sword | Final Score: Cavs lose first preseason game 124-113 to Celtics | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitwFBVV95cUxNTFpSWnlZRDRpRjBTUUZCZ2JGc3daUUdESDd1Q2ZUaUpQblBzdGVWODZid3lzUDZTeFFpd0pEX00xZW9ySll5V21OU0tPU21rRkJmTGt6Qlc3cGZyY3JpYXo0MDRBQTBrSVI5WHNrSzNnTGRyZjhValY2R0U1aS1URTdHRy1Ldmd6c0RmdE41SkFWWGpwLXFtdXBuY2haR0lwOWZXeEpQNlVIbVVDY1lSWEZpMlNjQm8?oc=5) |
| NBC Sports Boston | Celtics-Cavs recap: Luka Garza leads C’s to preseason-opening win | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqwFBVV95cUxPcjN2cXVUbDdDbVJDY0txdW5wRnBucHA0Y2lscWd0bmhHdHdJT0ZwN0hoeDZXSHVVNFZ4eGRMRmtIWGNWRFo2dVpOQUhKUGdwUzFCVnlzTzEyZFY2TENPMjNNZ3hOYXhGTE5qbzNLWnY0TEdaZTBiYVVxVFlzRk1xMlkxMy0tZmxTUjZTMUk4TVRzeHQyY1JIZklPVzhPT2VwUVA3bjhMRjJBM00?oc=5) |
| CelticsBlog | Luka Garza headlines Celtics win over the Cavaliers, 124-113 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuAFBVV95cUxQRkxfNE5pa2dhWkFGelk5anZwZ0hKY2l6QmNLd0FvWkFwVm9vZzlSZU5yWmxXV0h4NTM2clBvSmpEWGtpaXM3c0JVNTBIX2ZqcGlsdmtPUHIzQ2VvUU56SHhhaHc5YjZIOGJmU1ZtWl9lT09yX3R0LTdqY21NU0g2YzVsbUE5MU9CcnhfSHcxSGowX2NFN1FjOUZUZDJyYW5iWm9vYVB1ZEstXzZKZk15a0dqZFY2Q1dW?oc=5) |
| The Boston Globe | Joe Mazzulla and top eight rotation players watch as Celtics open preseason with a win, and other observations | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijgFBVV95cUxOZFd6bEFhWHBGX01IUHctNmZOV2tocTFRS3ZBUXkzcnB2SUhkMkctV1NNb2pQUWI3R2xZeXJjQ050OFlnMEIycS1FZWpia0NkREJueGxsZWhScW9oNGNJMTdwdW5ISW01ejlPUldMSGxoVnlHQ0Y2LV9LeXo1MDlIZ2xkcU5xWm9CZF95YWx3?oc=5) |
| MassLive.com | 4 takeaways as Celtics newcomer shines in win over Cavs in preseason opener | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivgFBVV95cUxNOWlTN3pLLTVNRmJHd0JhaHJQMkJPWHJweDJmcWdQcmhIZC1GaFRWVXBpSmJPTzdHSkQtZTA1cXZROEFCYVZTY2Y1VGtvTnlMRXV2c1BSSXBWRDFBWmZaYzh3TGE1MVZ5MF9mcFpWZk9oU2tzQjdFR0lMODU5Y0pvb1ZQU1F1S1NfYzZsY0xzRTBneGRhR0RWZ2JpaUpWOHJuWXZ0ZmpMYTdoMUhwYnF6cTJsdTNkc0pONDRzWGNB?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-10-09/4-takeaways-as-celtics-newcomer-shines-in-win-over-cavs-in-preseason-opener*